Hawksmere Springs Nature Reserve - a wildlife oasis
Even the sporadic management on the reserve has managed to maintain a high diversity of habitats,
communities and species for lowland Britain. There have been species of 7 mammals, 20 birds, 1
reptile. 43 floweringplants, 19 trees and shrubs, 34 grasses, rushes and sedges and 23 invertebrates
recorded on the reserve. However the biological data for the reserve is still under-recorded.
Ancient unimproved grassland
The ancient meadows on the reserve have a high structural diversity with three or four layers
forming a mosaic of heights. However, there a considerable differences between fields and the
vegetation communities within the grassland reflect the degree of wetness and past management
variations. Some typical components of the sward include Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra),
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Cowslip (Primula veris), Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris),
Betony (Betonica officinalis), Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum), Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus
corniculatus), Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), Sulphur Clover (Trifolium
ochroleucon), Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor), False Oxlip (Primula veris x vulgaris), Primrose
(Primula vulgaris), Common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) and Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-
cuculi). The meadows include a mixture of grasses including Sweet Vernal Grass (Anthoxanthum
odoratum), Quaking Grass (Brizia media). Red Fescue (Festuca rubra). Crested Dog's-tail
(Cynosurus cristatus) and Yellow Oat-grass (Trisetum flavescens).
Like all grasslands the reserve is vulnerable in the absence of active management and in the past
lack of suitable access has made it difficult to manage the site. It is completely surrounded by
farmland and for a long time had no bridge to allow crossing of a bordering ditch. In 1997 the
vegetation communities on the meadows were surveyed using the national vegetation classification
(NVC). The meadows were identified as an MG5 sub community b/c moving towards an MG1 sub
community e. Rodwell (1992) classifies this community as a Cynosurus cristatus - Centaurea
nigra grassland, which is described as a 'rich herb grassland with variable appearance'. This
community, once one of the main communities of southern England, is now relatively rare with
fewer than an estimated 5000 hectares still present in England and the community does not appear
to occur anywhere in North West Europe (Croft & Jefferson 1999).
The MG1 community represents an Arrhenatherum elatius dominated grassland described as an
'ungrazed grassland to badly managed meadows due to the absence of grazing' typical of roadside
verges. In 1999 small remains of the MG5 grassland community were identified but with the
majority of the reserve classified as an MG1 turning towards an MG9 community. An MG9
community is identified as a course sward dominated by Deschampsia caespitosa, described as a
'floristically dull grassland with little apparent interest for conservation'. By the summer of 2000
the main grassland communities recognised were MGle, MG9 with considerably smaller stands of
MG5b/c.
Ancient woodland
The ancient woodland is a classic piece of Ash-Hazel woodland, which is indicative of past coppicing
management. With the cessation of coppicing the reserve now contains an uneven-aged wood with
a closed canopy and poorly developing herb and ground layer. The copse contains different sizes
and ages of trees forming several vertical layers beneath the canopy: shrub, field and ground layer.
Species located within the woodland include Hazel (Corylus avellana). Field Maple (Acer
campestre). Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and English Oak (Quercus robur). Flowers include Lord's
and Ladies (Arum maculatum), Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)